Donald Trump’s sentencing in the state of New York for 34 criminal charges has been delayed without explanation, giving the presiding judge more time to consider how to proceed. This delay came on the same day that the District Attorney was supposed to file a recommendation to the judge. The charges stem from payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and could result in a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison. The court proceedings have been thrown into uncertainty due to Trump’s victory in the presidential race, leading to a request from prosecutors to stay all deadlines associated with the case.
Prosecutors and Trump’s attorneys have both backed the stay of deadlines in the case, citing the unprecedented circumstances due to Trump’s election as president. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that presidents should enjoy presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for most actions taken while in office, complicating the path forward in Trump’s case. The court ruled that presidents are entitled to absolute immunity for actions taken within the scope of their constitutional powers as commander-in-chief, with a presumption of immunity for other actions taken during their term.
It is unclear whether a president is entitled to the same level of constitutional protection for state convictions, as this matter has never been tested in court. Bragg’s office has maintained that the case against Trump is focused solely on his personal behavior, not his actions as president. Trump has consistently labeled the case as a politically motivated witch hunt, a tactic he frequently uses to discredit his critics and opponents. Even if Trump’s convictions are upheld, he has multiple avenues to appeal the case or get the charges dismissed before the sentencing date, making it unlikely that he will face any time behind bars.
Judge Merchan has made decisions that have been perceived as favoring the prosecution, raising concerns about bias in the case. The delay in sentencing has allowed for more evaluation of the impact of Trump’s election as president on the legal proceedings. Trump’s attorneys have been pushing to vacate the charges against him completely, further complicating the legal process. The uncertainty surrounding the case highlights the challenges in prosecuting a sitting president for criminal charges, particularly at the state level. Trump continues to maintain his innocence and has indicated that he will pursue all available avenues to fight the charges against him.
